Groups Call Upon Legislature and Governor to Make Real Changes That Will Make The Program More Accountable, More Transparent and Less Corrupt

Over 100 community, religious, education, health care, labor and human services organizations from throughout New York State have endorsed a joint statement of principles to reform the state’s Industrial Development Agency laws. The joint … (read more)

April 1, 2005. Good Jobs New York has uncovered an unpublicized rider to Empire Zones “reform” legislation that allows firms certified for Zone Equivalent Area (ZEA) Wage Tax Credits prior to June 2004 to receive up to five years of benefits – despite the program’s expiration. GJNY released a list of benefit recipients that include Giuliani Partners, Ernst & Young, Fox News and News America. The press release:

March 23, 2005.Testimony presented by FPI’s Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott to the New York City Charter Revision Commission. This testimony deals with the Charter Commission’s interest in determining if any of the expiring provisions of the New York State Financial Emergency Act for the City of New York should be incorporated into the New York City Charter.… (read more)

March 22, 2005. FPI joins with environmental, human services and other budget watchdog groups in releasing a plan to reform the State’s Empire Zones Program.

Reform Groups Urge State to “FIX THE ZONES” or Let the Program Sunset on March 31 as Scheduled

Environmental, human services and budget watchdog groups joined together today to call upon state leaders to fix the state’s Empire Zones Program and released an 11-point plan designed to end the abuse, corruption and favoritism inherent in … (read more)

March 22, 2005. Testimony by FPI Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott at a hearing of the City Council. This testimony deals with the discovery of the fact that Mayor Bloomberg and several of his predecessors have been spending some PILOT payment revenues without appropriations by the City Council. Related: Mayor Bloomberg’s veto message explaining his June 9, 2005, veto City Council legislation requiring greater accountability in the expenditure of PILOT revenues. Testimony >>… (read more)

February 16, 2005. Frank J. Mauro, Executive Director, Fiscal Policy Institute, presented testimony to the New York State Legislature’s Joint Budget Hearing on Economic Development and Taxes before the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees.

I greatly appreciate being invited to appear to you today on the subjects of economic development and taxes.

SPUR. As part of his 2005-06 Executive Budget proposal, Governor Pataki has proposed a new program that he refers to variously as SPUR and Operation … (read more)

January 18, 2005. Testimony by Frank J. Mauro, Executive Director, Fiscal Policy Institute, to the NYS Assembly Standing Committee on Local Governments, Public Hearing on Industrial Development Agencies.

Good Morning. We greatly appreciate being invited to appear before your committee to discuss the role and operations of Industrial Development Agencies in New York State.

The Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) has been interested in this subject since its inception in early 1991. In October of the following year (1992), FPI published … (read more)